Professional Organizations

Each Occupational Safety and Health student has access to various professional organizations
and current events within these organizations. These organizations enable occupational
safety and health students to look closely into their chosen area of study reviewing
opportunities and information relative to current events in that field. Participation
in student chapters of certain professional organizations is strongly encouraged.

American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, Illinois-based American Society of Safety Engineers
(ASSE) is the oldest professional safety society and represents more than 35,000 SH&E
practitioners committed to protecting people, property and the environment and are
at the forefront of safety engineering, design, standards development, management
and education in virtually every industry, governmental agency, labor and in institutions
of higher education. Presently, ASSE has several chapters, sections and student sections
around the globe with members in over 80 countries. ASSE members can be found in the
U.S. and several other countries including Mexico, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, the United
Kingdom, Australia, Kuwait and Egypt. In addition, ASSE is the Secretariat for eleven
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) committees responsible for more than
100 occupational safety and health standards. ASSE members also serve on over 40 safety
and health standards committees including three with the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO).

Purchase Area ASSE ChapterThe mission of the Purchase Area Chapter is to promote the advancement of the safety
profession and the safety professional; to foster the technical, scientific and managerial
knowledge and skills of safety, health, and environmental (the profession) professionals;
and to promote the technical, societal and economic well-being of safety practitioners
within the Purchase Area.

Middle Tennessee ASSE ChapterIn the spring of 1947 a group of safety professionals in the Middle Tennessee area
met regularly to discuss and promote the safety and well-being of residents living
and working in the Middle Tennessee area. The group is affiliated with American Society
of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the world's largest safety organization. Since that first
group gathering in 1947 the Chapter has continued to be a significant member of the
community, making numerous contributions. Chapter membership is in excess of 270 members
who maintain the mission of ASSE: to promote the advancement of the safety profession
and foster technical, scientific, managerial and ethical knowledge, skills and competency
of safety professionals.

American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)Founded in 1939, AIHA is a nonprofit organization devoted to achieving and maintaining
the highest professional standards for its members. More than half of 10,000 members
are certified industrial hygienists (CIHs), and many hold other professional designations.
AIHA administers comprehensive education programs that keep occupational and environmental health
and safety (OEHS) professionals current in the field of industrial hygiene.​

Human Factors and Ergonomic Society (HFES)The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society is an interdisciplinary nonprofit organization
of professional people who are involved in the human factors field. The Society promotes
the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings
that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds. It furthers
serious consideration of such knowledge in the assignment of appropriate functions
for humans and machines, whether people serve as operators, maintainers, or users
in the system. It advocates systematic use of such knowledge to achieve compatibility
in the design of interactive systems of people, machines, and environments to ensure
their effectiveness, safety, and ease of performance. The Society encourages appropriate
education and training for those entering the human factors profession and for those
who conceive, design, develop, manufacture, test, manage, and participate in systems.
The purpose inherent in human factors research and application is to contribute to
overall human well-being.

International Ergonomic Association (IEA)The International Ergonomics Association (IEA) is the federation of ergonomics and
human factors societies around the world entitled as international organization founded
in Zurich (Switzerland) pursuant to article 60 et seq of the Swiss Civil Code.The mission of the IEA is to elaborate and advance ergonomics science and practice,
and to expand its scope of application and contribution to society to improve the
quality of life, working closely with its constituent societies and related international
organizations.

Kentucky Safety & Health Network (KSHN)The Kentucky Safety and Health Network, founded in 1985 and incorporated in 1986,
represents individuals from all facets of Kentucky's workplaces. Membership is open
to any and all individuals with an interest in occupational safety and health. The
Network is governed by a President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. A volunteer
Board of Directors, elected from the membership, directs the activities of the Network.
The mission is to increase the awareness of safety and health in the workplace. The
organization draws on the experience and knowledge of its members who represent business,
education, government and labor.

Semiconductor Environmental, Safety & Health Association (SESHA)SESHA was formed in 1978. An informal meeting of nine safety and health professionals
desiring to exchange safety information has grown into an annual international conference
attended by over 250 professionals representing virtually all high technology disciplines.
SESHA membership has grown to approximately 350 members, including several countries
around the world. SESHA is truly a unique organization dedicated to the prevention
of workplace injuries and accidents through the sharing of safety and health information
and the promotion of technological advances in high technology, safety and health.
Since its founding, SESHA has established itself as the premier international organization
promoting the effective communication of safety, health and environmental information
to the electronics and related high technology industries